Improvement in treadles for sewing-machines



B. F. SoR-TMAN 8L E. CONFARE.

`Improrvemleht n-Tread|es for Sewing-Machines.

No. 131,311'. I Patented sp.1o,1872.

BENJAMIN F. SORTMAN AND EPHRAIM CONFARE, OF KNIGHTSTOWN, IND.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRADLES FCR SWiNGMACHlNES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 131,311, dated September l0, 18,72.

Specification describing certain Improve ments in Mechanical Movement for Converting Reciprocating into Rotary Motion, invented by BENJAMIN F. SORTMAN and EPHRAIM CONFARE, of Knightstown, in the county of Henry and State of Indiana.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are used for converting an oscillatory or reciprocating movement into a rotary motion, and thus avoiding what are termed dead-centers in machines which are usually rotated by cranks; the intention being to apply it to steam-engines, sewing-machines, and various other machines in which it isrlesirable to convert the reciprocating movement of one portion thereof into a rotary motion in some other portion, its novel features being fully set forth hereinafter.

Figure l is an elevation of our improved mechanism, showing a frame for supporting the operating parts 5 a shaft and ily-wheel to which a rotary motion is imparted, and upon which the cams or eccentrics are placed; a treadle and connecting-.rods for imparting to the eccentrics the oscillatory or reciprocating movement. Fig. 2 is an end view, showing the parts above alluded to, and in addition thereto stops which are attached to the eccentries to prevent them from moving too far, and to aid in the return movement of the connecting-rods. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the recess in one of the eccentrics, in which a pin is placed which works in the corrugations upon a pulley or an enlarged portion of the shaft to produce the rotary motion.'

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

In constructing mechanism vof this character and applying it to any machine which is to 'be worked by the feet of the operator, we provide any suitable frame, A, near the lower portion of the vertical portions of which there is placed a treadle-shaft, B, upon which there is placed the treadle Bf, and from an arm of which there extendv two connecting-rods, C C1, their upper ends' being pivoted to arms upon the eccentrics or cams D D1, for the purpose of imparting the movement of the treadle to said cams. The eccentrics D D1 are provided with apertures through which passes a shaft,

E, a portion of such apertures being enlarged,

to receive a portion. of a corrugated pulley or enlargement of the shaft D2, while the other portions of said apertures are of such size as to permit the eccentrics to turn freely upon the shaft. The arms of the eccentrics are made to stand in opposite direetions,'as shown in Fig. 2, as a consequence of which each arm is made to ascend and descend in unison with the other, one upon one side of shaft E and the other upon the other. In the inner surface of each ofthe eccentrics there is formed a recess, the outer surface of which is beveled, as shown in Fig. 3 in the one marked D1 in the drawing, but in the opposite direction in the one marked D, in order that D1 may act upon the pulley D2 to rotate it while its arm is descending, and D performs the same function while its arm is ascending. The connection between the eccentrics and the corrugated pulley or enlargement of the shaft D2 is made by means of asmall roller or pin, D3, which is placed in the recess formed in the eccentrics, as shown in Fig. 3, where it will be seen that,

while the arm of said eccentric is ascending,

the roller will pass into the enlarged portion of the recess, and that consequently said arm will be free to move without aifecting the shaft E; but that so soon as the movement of the arm is reversed by the action of the connecting-rod the pin will approach the smaller portion of the aperture, when it will be brought into one of the depressions in the shaft, and that thus the shaft will lbe made to move in the direction in which the arm is moving 5 and in order that a nearly continuous force may be applied to the shaft to rotate it, one of the eccentrics is so constructed and its cavity so arranged that when it is ascending it shall exert such force, and the other so that its force shall be exerted when its arm is descending. Upon the arms of the eccentrics stops O2 C2 may be placed, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the connecting-rods are in their most elevated position their ends shall come in contact with each other, as shown in dottedlines, and as the ends are provided with rubber or some other elastic substance any concussion will be avoided, and the parts will be aided in their return movements; and the same effect will be produced when the arms of the eccentrics are at their lowest point.

When it is desirable to attach this device to a steam or water engine for the purpose of e Leners converting the reeiprocating movement of the piston into a rotary motion, the rods C G1 are to be connected to the piston-rod, or to a crosshead attached thereto. The shaft E may be supplied with a pulley, or with a gear-Wheel, for imparting its motion to any machinery to be driven.

To prevent undue friction upon the faces of the eccentrics a Washer, D, may be inserted between them.

What We claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is=

The combination, in a machine for convert ing an oscillatory or reciprocating movement into a rotary motion, of two eccentrics or cams Witnesses A. H. FLANNER, WESLEY ELLIOTT. 

